Southern Door School Board candidate forum

Gregory Koelpien, Jamie Schmiling and Cory Vandertie answered questions from attendees during the League of Women Voters of Door County Forum Wednesday.(Photo: Samantha Hernandez/Door County Advocate)Buy Photo

Only three of the six Southern Door School Board candidates took part in a League of Women Voters of Door County's candidate forum Wednesday.

Those taking part were newcomers Gregory Koelpien, Jamie Schmiling and Cory Vandertie. Candidates Kim Welch, Kim Starr and incumbent Kim DeGrave Nowikowski were not in attendance. Welch did send a letter stating her qualifications including past experience as a school board member and board president.

Attendees submitted questions for the candidates to answers.

During introductions Schmiling spoke about her work in the health care field, how her husband is a Southern Door graduate and her two children attend Southern Door Elementary School.

Schmiling had nothing but praise for the staff.

Vandertie spoke about how he attended Southern Door and later returned as a teacher before leaving to a take a different position in 2012.

“Once an Eagle, always an Eagle,” he said. Southern Door's mascot is a bald eagle.

Koelpien told those gathered that he attended Gibraltar High School for a few years before graduating from Lincoln High School in Manitowoc. He has two children who go to school at Southern Door.

"They had a great experience here and they had great teachers," he said. "We want to continue to have a great school.”

One of the first questions is that candidates answered had to with the district's No. 1 strength and No. 1 weakness.

Vandertie said the district's strength was the community.

"Living in a rural community, just being really proud of that ... there is a tradition of hard work, dedication, commitment," he said. He feels that is represented in the district.

Vandertie felt communication with the community was the district's top weakness.

Koelpien said the work Southern Door teachers do in and out of classroom is a strength. He agreed with Vandertie that communication could be improved.

“We have a history of building a solid education for our students we have outstanding scores …that means we have excellent educators,” Schmiling said. She felt the budget and the restrictions and restraints it put on the district was a weakness.

Another question was about the best way to communicate with non-parent residents in the school district.

Schmiling said the district is already doing much with community conversations, the district's Facebook page, newsletters, radio interviews and the website.

“I feel that we need to keep all of these lines of communication open," she said.

Vandertie advocated getting out and talking to people in the community.

"I think there are a lot of opportunities for voices to come to the table, (and) that is very exciting,” he said.

Koelpien said he appreciates the outreach via email and social media.

"(We've) got to do a one on one to convince people what we need and what our goals are,” he said.

Candidates were also asked if they would support a future referendum if there was an obvious need.

Vandertie said he would need more information.

“For me to say one way or another would be very difficult,” he said.

Koelpien said it would depend on what the money would be used for. He used the example of the district wanting a pool for an example of a "no." He would consider it if a referendum was for things like teachers' pay or new boilers.

”Yes, I would support a future referendum if it is needed,” Schmiling said. There would have to be a lot of communication with the public during the process.

A video of the forum is expected to be available on the League's website www.doorcounty.wi.lwvnet.org soon.